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Around The Moon. Jules Vernes
science. The members of the Gun Club, a circle of artillerymen formed at Baltimore after the American war,
conceived the idea of putting themselves in communication with the moon!-- yes, with the moon-- by sending to her
a projectile. Their president, Barbicane, the promoter of the enterprise, having consulted the astronomers of the
Cambridge Observatory upon the subject, took all necessary means to ensure the success of this extraordinary
enterprise, which had been declared practicable by the majority of competent judges. After setting on foot a public
subscription, which realized nearly $5,500,000, they began the gigantic work.
According to the advice forwarded from the members of the Observatory, the gun destined to launch the projectile
had to be fixed in a country situated between 0° and 28° of north or south latitude, in order to aim at the moon when
at the zenith; and its initiatory velocity was fixed at twelve thousand yards to the second. Launched on the 1st of
December, at 10hrs. 46m. 40s. P.M., it ought to reach the moon four days after its departure, that is on the 5th of
December, at midnight precisely, at the moment of her attaining her perigee, that is her nearest distance from the
earth, which is exactly 86,410 leagues (French), or 238,833 miles mean distance (English).
The principal members of the Gun Club, President Barbicane, Major Elphinstone, the secretary Joseph T. Maston,
and other learned men, held several meetings, at which the shape and composition of the projectile were discussed,
also the position and nature of the gun, and the quality and quantity of powder to be used. It was decided: First, that
the projectile should be a shell made of aluminum with a diameter of 108 inches and a thickness of twelve inches to
its walls; and should weigh 19,250 pounds. Second, that the gun should be a Columbiad cast in iron, 900 feet long,
and run perpendicularly into the earth. Third, that the charge should contain 400,000 pounds of gun-cotton, which,
giving out six billions of litres of gas in rear of the projectile, would easily carry it toward the orb of night.
These questions determined President Barbicane, assisted by Murchison the engineer, to choose a spot situated in
Florida, in 27° 7' North latitude, and 77° 3' West (Greenwich) longitude. It was on this spot, after stupendous labor,
that the Columbiad was cast with full success. Things stood thus, when an incident took place which increased the
interest attached to this great enterprise a hundredfold.
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